In search of global domination

Okay, so there have been players from the four corners of the Earth (and outer space if you count Oak), who’ve played for or been with the Raptors.

There’ve been guys who have contributed greatly (see Calderon, Jose), some who’ve been oddities (we give you Bateer, Mengke) and those who have really made no impact whatsoever on the court (Gangster, The).

They’ve had Europeans and South Americans and Asians and now maybe a new area’s on the horizon: The Philippines.

Check out this story that was brought to my attention yesterday.

Say one thing for Jim Kelly, he is world renowned and he’s big in Filipino basketball circles. Not that it’s likely to yield any, you know, players or anything but it should keep the Raptors popular over there.

Now, when they announce the fully-funded training centre to develop young Canadian basketball talent, we’ll be even more impressed.

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Oops, I have to correct a mistake here the other day.

Seems RaptorsTV will be showing the four home pre-season games and the big tilt in Edmonton against Denver. And, if the past is prelude, somewhere on a satellite the games in Los Angeles will get on the tube, making it seven of the eight available for viewers.

So, yes, you can see delightful NBA pre-season action if you subscribe to the network.

And anything on there is better than another Miami-New York playoff game.

My humblest apologies.

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AP FILE PHOTO

Candace Parker struts her stuff in high school.

A familiar name checks in from the mail:

Q: To hear that Lisa Leslie makes around $75,000 a year, and then to have someone like Marbury make around $20 mil a year is so wrong it hurts. Obviously the WNBA is not bringing in anywhere near the same amount of revenue that the NBA does. Do you imagine that somewhere, far down the line, the WNBA will ever come anywhere near the popularity of the NBA? If so, what would it take to get there? 100 players just like Candace Parker?

Amanda F, Barrie

A: Unfortunately, I can’t.

The things that drive the NBA’s economic engine – globalization, marketing, television – just don’t exist on the same scale for the WNBA and I can’t see it changing dramatically in the foreseeable future.

To be sure, the emergence of Candace Parker as the game’s great young player has helped – anecdotally I’ve had a bunch more questions and comments about the WNBA this year than I ever have and I think it’s the Parker Effect – but even 100 of her wouldn’t do the trick, I’m afraid.

Sucks, but it’s the way of the world.

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Speaking of the WNBA, it’s playoff time starting this week, in case you’re starved for actual basketball competition.

I’m not sure who can see what networks there but the Canadian content in the Indy-Detroit series is significant with Toronto’s Tammy Sutton-Brown having an excellent season with the Fever. Toss in Kim Smith in Sacramento and Kelly Schumacher in Detroit and there are three Canadian women in the WNBA playoffs. And that’s not too bad.

Check out this Q and A with Tammy from Indy’s website where she touches on her play, and her Canadianism.

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Back to yesterday for a minute.

Did the McCown radio show and one of the topics of discussion – this being Canada and it being September 2008 and all – was – ta da! – hockey at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the role Wayne Gretzky would have with the team.

Forget what we said about that – I’m sure the topic will be raised daily between now and the start of the Games (or at least until Mats Sundin makes some decision) – but the role of the most iconic Canadian in team sports is an interesting one when it’s put in the basketball context.

As regular readers – or at least people who read here yesterday – will know, I’m a big proponent of some sort of College of Elders or Advisory Board or something like that – being put in place to oversee the national senior men’s program.

And there’s one guy they must get and that’s Steve Nash.

I know the folks at Canada Basketball have reached out to him several times already and he’s been listening.

His role? I see him as the face of the team, a de facto GM who cajoles players into taking part, does a couple of corporate things to help raise money and awareness and does some media to spread the word.

The team – and it’s only a part of what Canada Basketball does – needs a boost and Nash is the one to provide it.

It’s never too late to start enhancing the profile of the team, maybe so fans can follow players in their European leagues this year and this would be one big step to take.

You’re welcome.

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And another dip into the mail:

Q: Doug, long-time reader, first time question.

Given his recent injuries and the like, J.O. has been... some would say, inconsistent (compared to previous years of 20 and at or near 10) performance would you find it far-fetched if off to a slow (or the aforementioned inconsistent) start, that J.O would come off of the bench as part of the second unit?
Keep up the perpetually sagacious columns. Your blog will be bookmarked on the ol' iPhone until you're past you're prime *cough Olajuwon cough*.

Michael W, Toronto

A: There are those who would argue that the prime has come and gone. But I digress.

I cannot see a way that O’Neal doesn’t start. Injuries, of course, might have something to do with it but that’s the only way that happens.

I know they always say players determine the playing time but there is no way he doesn’t start any game he dresses for.

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Guess we should start thinking about putting some context into what went on around the NBA this summer, shouldn’t we? After all, with perhaps the exception of Ben Gordon in Chicago, I think all the big moves that were going to be made have been made and teams are pretty much ready to hit the court.

Even the Zach Randolph to Memphis talked has – thankfully for the Grizzlies – died a slow and painless death so I’m not sure there’s a big deal out there still to be made.

That's going to make the next couple of weeks really, really uneventful. I'm sure there'll be stories about this guy or that guy signing with this team or that team but, really, no one signed now is going to have a guaranteed contract and most will just be live bodies for training camp. Teams are pretty set right now, moves at this time are all window dressing.

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And, finally:

Q: I was wondering, hypothetically if there was a proposal from New Jersey that would have Carter returning to Toronto(in a deal that would not include Bosh, JO, or Jose), do you think Colangelo would hesitate because of the history or would he hope that the fans would understand that Carter could be the last piece this team needs to contend with Boston?

Mark R, Toronto

A: Not going to happen, will never, ever even be discussed. Forget it. That ship has sailed. The time has come and gone.

I don’t even imagine, given the past and Carter’s contract, that Bryan would even pick up the phone if that was the discussion.

Comments

[dc]

i just spent 4 months in the Philippines working with an NGO that specializes in community building (www.visayans.org). I knew basketball was a popular sport there, but i was totally unprepared for how completely it is ingrained in the way of life for all men there. from the time they can first hold the ball till they are too old to lift their arms above their shoulders, filipinos play basketball with an unparalled enthusiasm, agressiveness and savy. i often wondered why there were no prospects coming from a nation of almost 90 million, where literally every neighbourhood has a court that is used daily.
in my opinion, south east asians are too small and/or too slow to ever be able compete against the rest of the world. a typical guard in the philippines is under 5'5" a tall forward/center is 6'3". a guard with the proper size to compete against your Ukic's and Calderon's of the world would also be physiologically unsuited for the position (he would be more accustomed to playing forward). the only hope for the Philippines national team is expatriots and half-filipino off-spring motivated to play for their parents' homeland. I'm glad to hear the infrastructure is finally catching up with the passion. isn't dennis rodman half-filipino? maybe he can teach rebounding, or maybe everyone should forget about him.

[Patrick]

Hey Doug,

Since you mentionned that certain players were already in town and going through informal workouts (Parker, Adams, Jawai, Bargnani), I was wondering if Ukic was there too.

Given his inexperience at the NBA level, along with the shift from Europe to North America, maybe getting in there a bit early would be beneficial for him (i.e. getting used to his new surroundings and teammates so as go into training camp with at least a bit of a comfort level).

Thanks!

Blogger's note: I presume he'll be in this week sometime and there'll be plenty of time to get used to the new surroundngs and teammates

[Freets24]

Two counter points:

I don't see Captain Canada getting involved with Canada Basketball with Leo Rautins in the mix. I recall Nash was not pleased when Triano was let go and was not very complimentary of the selection process or the person they picked to replace him (stating he would not play if Triano was not coaching, which to me is a statement more towards Leo than Jay). Leo is a Narcissist and Steve knows it.

As for Vince coming back to T.O., it's not very likely BUT if JO does not perform well or is injured next year Jersey will want his contract to make room for the 2010 FA class. Any guess who they would offer back to TO in the transaction? Still can't see it due to chemistry and the extra two years that would be left on VC contract but never say never.

[Chris S.]

Hey Doug, you seem to get alot of questions about VC coming back to Toronto and although we both know it would never happen the question always seems to be how would the fans react but that seems to overlook the other end, raptors fans have spit hatred every time VC has come to TO for years now so I gotta imagine if lets say for argument's sake that Vince was traded back to the Raps, isn't there a very good chance (knowing his personality) that he would refuse to come back anyway?

[Marc in Burlington]

Hi Doug,

I agree with you on the HWSNBN boat sailing here in Toronto. How long do you think it will be before Wince pulls a "I don't wanna dunk anymore" number with the Nets? Once again he finds himself on a very young team that looks like it's main focus is to shed salary and develop it's young talent for a re-too job in '10. In light of the complete hosing that Babcock took to dump him, ( I still maintain he should have been dealt before the draft, thus avoiding the Hoffa blunder as well, while maximizing the potential return) what would be Mr Cranky Pants value on the open market today?

Regard's

Marc in Burlington

[Kevin]

I don't think Vince could ever work hard enough to overcome how little he worked that last season. Wanting to leave was okay. Blanking the dog until he got his way burned all his bridges on the way out of town.
The fans work harder booing him than the effort he gives some nights.

[Ugly_fish]

raptor fans must acknowledge that Vince wasn't at fault. I mean how many of you really try at your day jobs?? Especially when your management can't tell left from right?
That being said Vince would be the missing atheletic wing this team needs. He's a remarkable talent and with Bosh and O'Neal how hard does he really need to try?

[ro]

They made the Ottawa announcement! Only 1300 tickets (including standing room). Tix go on sale Thursday.

Blogger's note: Thanks, have just put a note about it in the regular blog.

[John]

The thing about Vince is that he's overpaid and washed up. Add to that a bad attitude anywhere he's played. Why would you guys want him back?

[John]

VC must be never returned to Toronto. That's not because we hate him so much. That's because he is just a bit above above players. His team, a team for which he plays, can never win in the playoffs.